20th c.
Carved wood, paint, rope
90" x 15" x 14"
Provenance: Allan Stone Collection, New York
The imagery found in masks of the Bobo, Bwa, Kurumba, Mossi, and others living in Burkina Faso and southeast Mali commonly combine the stylized features of humans, animals, and even insects. Bold geometric shapes repeat in brightly painted designs, enlivening the surfaces of these relatively abstract forms and communicating the ethical and moral values of the community. Local artists, usually smiths, carve the masks. When used in performances the masks embody nature or ancestor spirits. They appear at important funerals to honor the dead and escort the deceased's soul to the world beyond. They also dance at agricultural festivities to ensure the proper progression of the seasons and at initiation rituals to help introduce young men and women to the secrets and responsibilities of adulthood.
References
Roy, Christopher D. Bwa Masks, 2007 Roy, Christopher D. Land of the Flying Masks: Art & Culture in Burkina Faso, the Thomas G. B. Wheellock Collection. Prestel Pub, 2007, pp. 410-412Uht, Charles and Goldwater, Robert. Traditional Art of the African Nations in the Museum of Primitive Art. Literary Licensing, LLC, 2013

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